Cloudy skies didn’t discourage thousands of festival goers from filling Washington Park on Sunday, September 20, for the ninth annual Blues, Brews & BBQ, presented by the West End Arts District (WEAD). The free festival, which ran from noon to 6 p.m., paired live blues music with regional beers, wine, barbecue, arts vendors, and activities for children.
Blues, Brews & BBQ began in 2015 and has grown into one of the West End Arts District’s cornerstone events. Last year, WEAD Executive Director Tara Pilbrow told the Alameda Post that attendees came from 48 ZIP codes throughout the Bay Area, with approximately half traveling from outside Alameda. WEAD, a community-led nonprofit founded in 2015 by Fireside Lounge owner Sandy Russell, aims to foster performing and visual arts in West Alameda. Blues, Brews & BBQ helps to support WEAD’s year-round programming throughout the island.
A few volunteers said they were initially concerned that the gray and cool weather might suppress attendance, but those worries proved unnecessary. Organizers estimated last year’s crowd at approximately 4,000 – 5,000 and volunteers agreed this year’s turnout appeared to be comparably impressive. By the time the sun emerged later in the afternoon, there were dozens of people forming a line for YaYa’s Classic Soft Serve, and much of the park’s grass was concealed by picnic blankets and folding chairs as groups of friends and families settled in for hours of festivities.
This year’s main stage featured Bay Area blues guitarist Chris Cain as the headliner. Attendees were overheard expressing excitement about this headlining act; after all, Cain is award-winning, holding past titles of Blues Music Awards Guitarist of the Year and more. The event also showcased Terrie Odabi and an extended Aki Kumar Blues Jam featuring Jules Leyhe and Marina Crouse. Many attendees got up to dance near the stage throughout the event.
The rest of the festival spread across Washington Park like a collection of small neighborhoods. A large cluster of booths featured local artists selling jewelry, clothing, accessories, and other wares. A separate area was devoted to food, and of course, there were many smoking barbecue options. Families lined up to buy hot dogs from Evergood Sausage, a company impressively celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Perhaps unsurprisingly for an event with “BBQ” in its name, vegetarians had fewer choices among the main dishes. That said, fried mushrooms, cheese sticks, and sweets meant that non-meat eaters did not have to go hungry.
Meanwhile, beer, wine, and cocktail stations formed a heavily trafficked lane within the park. This beer garden featured craft offerings from all over the Bay, including hometown breweries like Alameda Brewing and Faction Brewing. Alameda’s Urban Legend supplied wine, while Alameda Soda Company offered nonalcoholic drinks.
Children had their own Family Zone, and Ozzy’s Music Academy provided a roving stage and chalk-art station. There were also activities from the Creativity Center of Alameda…